The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has pledged its support for the enhancement of Ekiti State’s non-oil agricultural crop with export potential.

The state’s Commissioner for Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, who disclosed this, yesterday, said the NEPC had asked the state to select a single crop for which it has the greatest comparative advantage, for NEPC to help promote.

Olumilua said the state was blessed with fertile lands and that a large percentage of the people were farmers who are either into subsistence or commercial agriculture.

The commissioner said Ekiti State had comparative advantage in food and cash crops such as cassava, rice, yam, bananas, cocoa and cashew, among others. He expressed the readiness of the state government for strategic partnership that will help maximise the potential in the agricultural sector.

Olumilua said he had met with the Executive Director of the Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo, who promised to give all the necessary support to Ekiti State to enable it achieve its goals in expanding its export capacity.

“Awolowo stated that NEPC is strongly driving the nation’s “zero oil plan” with the aim of diversifying Nigeria’s export capacity, and drastically reducing the country’s dependence on revenue from crude oil exports,” he said.

“Awolowo said that NEPC is desirous of forging a strategic partnership with Ekiti State. The executive director said the Council had set up a field office in Ekiti State, apart from the regional office, to enable it work closer with the state Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.”